Why Teach English in Indonesia?

Breath-taking beaches, charming wildlife, secluded islands, and astonishing arts are just a fraction of the outstanding sights that you’ll come face to face with in the beautiful nation of Indonesia. It’s the fourth most populated nation on the planet so there are lots of teaching English opportunities and hundreds of budding students. Here’s why you should teach English in Indonesia!

Why Teach English in Indonesia?

Indonesia only has 2 seasons – can you guess what they might be? Yep, you got it, wet and dry, and even then there are no extremes of winter and summer. In the majority of Indonesia, the wet season is between October and April and the dry season falls from May to September and during this time the rain can sometimes go on for days. So, if you’re someone who hates getting wet then teaching English in this tropical climate may not be the best place for you. Having said that, the warm waters surrounding the nation mean temperatures on land stay regular throughout the year, (from about 23°C to 28°C) so, at least you won’t be wet AND cold when you’re TEFLing.

World-famous surfing in Bali – Kuta Beach in the most famous beach in Bali and it’s blessed with spectacular waves just perfect for surfing. Even if you’ve never surfed before there are professionals on hand to give you lessons, starting right from the word go. P erhaps surfing isn’t for you and your way of winding down after a long day of teaching English is basking in the sun, have no fear as the beach is perfect for relaxing to – not to mention, all along the beach there are bars, restaurants and nightclubs so you could really make a night of it!

The trap of the Gili Islands – OK, so here’s our warning to you: if you’re planning on going to the breath-taking Gili Islands whilst you are in Indonesia, allow yourself a few more days than anticipated. We couldn’t tell you exactly what it is that make visitors feel like they have to stay longer than they planned, but the majority of people do. Maybe it’s the fact that there are absolute no cars over there and everyone travels by horse and carriage (so peaceful), the beautiful white sands or the deepwater coral reefs packed with some of the most colourful under water views you’ll ever set eyes on. Sound like somewhere you’d want to go whilst on your TEFL adventure? Well the islands are just a two hour speedboat ride from Bali.

Indonesian cuisine – Indonesians eat simple but tasty meals: most dishes, except rice, are eaten at room temperature and locals tend to fill up on rice as it keeps the cost of feeding the family quite low. Fish is also hugely popular and the seafood restaurants are usually of a high standard. So if you want to fit in with the locals while you’re teaching English in their country then here are a few of their favourite things for you to try:

Most popular Indonesian dishes:

Sate – Commonly known in the West as ‘satay’ this skewered meat could be anything from prawns to pork!Nasi Goreng – This Balinese version of fried rice is available at every ‘warung’ or Indonesian cafe.Gado Gado – Vegetables with a thick peanutty sauce is a popular ‘anytime’ food in Indonesia – wash it down with a fresh avocado smoothie!

If none of these tickle your fancy then Chinese food is the top foreign food eaten in Indonesia and is available pretty much anywhere you go.

Indonesian nightlife – Whilst a lot of Indonesia’s nightlife is quite tame, the clubbing scene in Jakarta and Kuta is some of the wildest in the whole of Southeast Asia. From high end cocktail bars to local sports bars there are a wide range of bars and clubs to suit everyone’s preference.

Remember: during Ramadan all bars and clubs close at midnight!

There are a huge range of things to do to keep you entertained whilst teaching English in Indonesia and this is just the start! If that wasn’t enough, there are loads and loads of TEFL jobs out there so what are you waiting for?!

Hi Frankie, first thing’s first, to teach English in Bali you would need a degree, so it’s great that you’re qualified to do so! Secondly, there are TEFL jobs available in Bali, but they’re not always as easy to come by as ones in Jakarta. I would suggest taking a look at English First http://www.englishfirst.com/trt/ – they have a big presence in Indonesia, and advertise their vacancies online. You might also find our teaching in Indonesia guide of use, with useful information on the types of jobs available, and what the day-to-day living is like http://www.onlinetefl.com/teach-english-abroad/indonesia. If you want any more help on finding a TEFL course that’s right for you, I’d recommend you get in touch with one of our expert advisers by either calling 0113 205 4610 or requesting a call back here: http://www.onlinetefl.com/contact-tefl-team/call-me-back.html. Good luck with your TEFL adventure in Bali!

Hi Chris, unfortunately you would need a degree to teach English in Bali – it’s illegal to TEFL without a degree in Indonesia. There are however, many other South East Asian countries where you can teach without a degree, such as Cambodia and Laos. Take a look at our destination guides here: http://www.onlinetefl.com/teach-english-abroad/ – you can check out requirements for 50 different countries. Hope this helps!